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Excellent professor. Very profound speaker who really makes you think. Not a class for idiots!

not the best teacher but he does raise your grade if you have taken all of the tests.....so take your tests

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Listen. You will have to hold your ground with Bruss, you will have to think, listen, and learn. He offers his intrepretations of stories that can crack open their meanings for you. If you can't hack a challenging course, don't add him. I loved it!

Dr. Bruss is a postmodern instructor. A lot of the people on this site have rated him poorly and that is a shame. I can see where you would not understand as a freshmen, but stick with it. If you can make sense of Bruss, nothing is out of reach!

Bruss is awesome! I don't care what anyone else says. Native American Lit. was a great class, and he was really interesting to listen to. The only people that don't like him are whiney, little 18-year-olds that want to skip class everyday and not work.

I think Paul Bruss is a very attractive man. His class was an inspiration to me and I had a full blown crush on him. He is very passionate about his life and about his work. He gave me hope that not all men are shallow, mindless apes. Thanks Paul

I think that paul bruss is an excellent university instructor. The problem is that most students in the class have never read a truly challenging book and therefore do not have the educational background to be successful in his course. Don't take a 400 level course if you are not prepared to work.

Very interesting books. Entergetic lecturer. Tries hard to make the class easy if you come to lecture or you read the book. Easy (multiple choice exams/quizes) but he tries to try to get you interested in it. Such funny literature, he talks about sex and controversial topics even his personal life!

Bruss is the man; he's as sharp as they come, passionate about lit and teaching, and funny in a subversive, disorienting way. I didn't get him at first, but that's becasue he's an original. Much of his crazy wisdom has stuck with me.

Very difficult to draw as much stuff out of the book as he does. Draws sexual innuendo from the most absurd places in text. Answer the tests based on how he lectures, not how u percieve it and you'll pass, brush up on yer big words too, he likes em! he's not at all objective and can be very difficult, take someone else if you can.

Bruss was a great teacher. The classes did get dull at times, but I enjoyed hearing his abstract views that he got out of reading the same story I did. I also took certain views on life from him.

he's a good teacher. i don't remember any "weekend friend" comments, personally. his reading selection was excellent. if you're looking to just get through an english course, skip him. if you like the subject he's worth taking

I thought I was going to hate this class but found it really interesting. While I was not a big fan of the reading material, I found Bruss's energy and conversation to be fun and educational.

I didn't find Bruss' class too difficult; I rather enjoyed all of the reading material he assigned -read it by the pool, as I had him for a summer class. Can't complain about contemporary novels. Some awkward moments in class -uncomfortable sexual connotations and the like -but all in all, very informative and not at all boring!

He was a good professor. He wasn't extremly easy, but I would never NOT reccomend him. He has very easy essays that make up most of your grade and moderatley hard tests that don't count for as much. He drops scores, as well. I would take him over again if I could..

Bruss is a madman. That's not saying he's bad however. He knows exactly what he's doing which makes him one of the better teachers out there. The class can be a bit difficult at times but as long as you're able to follow what he says (preferrably after reading the assignment) the class can be a breeze. Plus he is eccentric and just fun to watch.

cool guy. his readings are actually good. he's a liberal guy which makes his class even better..

You need to attend all lectures and keep up on the reading. As long as you are taking good notes and prepare for the essay questions ahead of time you can at least get a B! I thought he was a good teacher and I got an A in his class because I prepared the essays ahead of time AND went to his office and attended every single lecture.

goes off on tangents, but still eventually illustrates his point and is passionate about what he teaches, rather than just standing there and collecting dust like other teachers.

This guy is awesome and brilliant. I have no idea what people are complaining about.

Bruss is one of the best teachers I've had at EMU. As a LLW major I was so pleased to find a prof who really got me thinking. I can tell you though that you have to be willing to READ the texts, GO TO CLASS, and STUDY! We are in college after all, so do the work. He is eccentric, interesting, and will open your mind if you let him Give him a chance

Whether people want to accept it or not, he is a brilliant man. He may not have the greatest way of explaining the short stories or novels but he does really make you think. He really does care about students and wants them to understand.

I don't care what people say about Bruss. He's absolutely brilliant and very helpful. Anyone who says different is lazy and didn't put the necessary effort into his class. I was enlightened, inspired, and amused all semester. If you take the time to give Bruss a chance, you will thank yourself for it.

It was extremely refreshing to have a lit class that was out of the ordinary and challenging. As a lit major, I've grown sick of the mundane, everyday lit that I'm forced to read. But Bruss provided me with a breath of fresh air, or a wake-up slap in the face. Whichever. Probably both. If you put in the time & effort, Bruss is great.

Bruss is the man. If you can't handle serious thinking and serious work, don't take him. He does come off like a mad scientist sometimes, since he likes to get in your face regardless if it's 8am in the morning or not, but if you listen, he will stir you and you WIll think! I've enjoyed 2 of his LIT classes and looking forward to take another one.

Paul Bruss marches to the beat of his own drummer. He may come off as unconventional or eccentric, but the bottom line is that he is hands down, the best professor in the EMU Lit department. That man will change your life.

Don't take this class unless your into post modernism. I can tell he's a really nice guy and really interesting, but unless you think like him, which most don't, your not going to do to well in the class. The best advice is to read the texts before class and participate in the lectures. He doesn't make much sense but if you try you won't fail.

I honestly think that Professor Bruss is a great teacher. He is hilarious, and if you attend class it isn't difficult to get a decent grade. Plus, he has this rugged manliness that I think is really sexy. I'm not sure how old he is but doesn't matter because he looks fantastic.

Great professor. Books he chose were extremely engaging and interesting- not easy reads, but really made you think.

I'm not really sure how some people can't get the concepts discussed in class. They kind of all fell together like a pattern, the different themes of the novels. Ex. The 1st unit books (3) seemed to be about fractured units of time in post-2001 fiction. Techniques of lit today. Aka "recent trends" ...anyway, Bruss isn't a bad guy. Hilarious.

Bruss is a fun and passionate professor. His class is challenging, but that's not in any way a bad thing.

I wanted to add my perspective as a former student. I took his class in 1993! I agree with what a lot of posters are saying. His class had some difficult and abstract concepts. However, no one made me think more than Paul. Concepts i learned in his class resonate within me today. Take his class, as life wears you down you will appreciate it!

I think the reviews here don't represent how I have heard most of my peers (majors) talk about him. Everyone I ever spoke to feels he is inspirational. No other class was as key to improving my thinking and writing. He can be intimidating, but this class will work you if you are willing to be independent and willing to go with the material.

Requires a lot of reading and remembering material from multiple novels. In-class lectures were informative but sometimes slow and off topic. Multiple choice tests were based on what you remember from the reading. Written essays are based off the in-class discussion. Paul Bruss knew the information and wanted his students to succeed.